My life with teenage boys

Man-Child Pays Sister For Silence August 12, 2011

Sister of a Man-Child was left at home recently with Man-Child II babysitting whilst we went out to dinner (yes there are advantages to having men-children after all). When we came home there appeared to be no issues, daughter was asleep in bed, all was good.

About a week later, Sister of a Man-Child told me she had a secret. Moreover, it was a secret she wasn’t supposed to share with us, because her brother had asked her to keep the secret. But she wondered if she could share it, on the condition her brother couldn’t know, and no-one would get in trouble. Poor child, she was carrying around a secret and bursting to tell someone. “Of course you can tell me darling” I said, wondering what mischief was about to be revealed.

Sister: Well, the other night when you went out, Man-Child II had a friend over, and he said he’d pay me to keep it a secret from you.
Mother: Really, did he now? Was it a girl or boy?
Sister: Boy.
Mother: Do you know who it was?
Sister: No.
Mother: How much did he pay you?
Sister: $3. (Reasonable deal for both really.)

So we said nothing, and praised Sister of a Man-Child for being honest enough to tell us and reassured her she or he wouldn’t get in trouble or know that we had been told the secret. I figured we might as well encourage this excellent form of man-child espionage. 🙂

A week later a mate of Man-Child II walks in the door. Sister of a Man-Child discreetly says to me “Mum, you know how I said he had a mate over, that’s him.” Bingo! Puzzle solved. Perfect. Sister of a Man-Child was actually quite chuffed, realizing she had managed to deliver all relevant information to her parents, without suffering any form of retribution.

She then floored me when she said to herself, “Gee, this is okay. I get paid to keep a secret, but then I tell Mum, and everything is okay.” LOL, brilliant! This kid will go far in life. She earned the $3 from her brother – I hope she makes plenty more from them over the years!!!